Plot Summary:Ambushed and humiliated by the authorities on Dromund Kaas, Darth Malagant is banished to the frontier world of Belkadan to serve as a "Sith auxiliary" to the Imperial Wild Space Command. But his arrival on the swamp world came at an opportune time: Moff Nicohlas Heermann, commander of the IWSC, has received orders from Empress Acina to lead his forces to Iokath, a machine-world discovered by the Alliance during the war against Zakuul, and rumored to be the origin of the Eternal Fleet.

News of Malagant's exile has reached someone that the Sith Lord, among others, has believed to be dead for the past decade: His younger brother, General Andav Undjo. Maimed but unbroken, Andav has served as head of the engineers, snipers, and other support troops in the task force of Moff Matthias Caudell. Returning to Dromund Kaas on his flagship, the Sanguinar, Moff Caudell receives new orders to deploy into the field.